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Collmenter recounts harrowing discovery of ulcer

Collmenter recounts harrowing discovery of ulcer

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Josh Collmenter

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PHOENIX -- D-backs relief pitcher Josh Collmenter figured he just had to throw up. He thought he could get whatever was making him feel sick out of his system fairly quickly and return to his normal self.

But what initially started as a feeling of uneasiness eventually turned into a serious three-day trip to the hospital and a procedure to remove an ulcer from his body.

The unexpected illness that landed Collmenter on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 10 began when the D-backs flew home from a trip in Pittsburgh.

"I just felt sick," he said. "I never experienced anything like it before. There was no warning. It just came out of nowhere."

When the 26-year-old returned to his home, he spit up blood and became worried. That's when he knew a hospital trip was imminent.

Doctors ended up finding the ulcer with a tube and cauterizing it. The procedure forced Collmenter to rest up for three days before returning home.

Now a week later, the pitcher is returning to baseball activities. He threw a bullpen session on Saturday and is scheduled to throw an inning at Salt River Fields on Tuesday.

"I took a little time off, then I started throwing last week and now I'm feeling like myself again," he said. "I was weak when it first happened, but now I feel good."

On the season in nine starts and 13 relief outings, Collmenter is 3-3 with a 4.24 ERA and 69 strikeouts.